Marcia Blake: A Solid Record of Professional Achievements

Over 30 years of strategic and operating leadership in print and online communications and publishing, adapting emerging technologies to develop new business opportunities and enhance cost effectiveness.

Automagix!, 1989-Present
E-business Strategic Planning, Cross-Media Marketing & Communications
Operating consulting practice across online and print media. Provide strategic planning and tactical direction, improve effectiveness of client publishing and communications operations, and develop revenue-generating and cost-reduction measures. Develop and execute projects, manage subcontractors, and provide deliverables on schedule and within budget.

• Served as COO/VP Marketing for launch of San Diego-based dot-com startup
• Explored emerging Web-based business for venture capital firm, evaluating team, technologies, and business applications and leading to seed investment.
• Developed Web strategy and tactical implementation for a consumer magazine publishing site, identifying areas for enhancing brand awareness, increasing revenue development, managing customer service, and building user retention.
• Planned and executed comprehensive comparative analysis of national Web directories for major mid-Atlantic directory publishing company.

AT&T New Media Services, Cambridge, MA., 1994-1996
Director, Internet Content Services (1995-96)
Directed and empowered staff in development of customer-focused Web infospace for AT&T Business Network. Provided expertise in Web publishing and information management. Delivered internal seminars coaching executives, managers, and line employees in effective use of Internet and Web technologies and content.

• Served on task force that redirected corporate mission from proprietary AT&T Interchange Online Network platform development and publishing to Web publishing.
• Developed Competitive Information team and corporate intelligence database. Launched weekly, internal online newsletter providing mission-critical information about online competitors and potential strategic partners.

Executive Editor, Business Partnership Executive (1994-95)
Coordinated editorial, design, and technical services departments in development and maintenance of online infospaces for AT&T Interchange Online Network publishing partners. Developed and maintained corporate electronic library database.

• Planned and directed launch of first Interchange publishing partner service, Gartner Group @Vantage.
• Developed structured Rapid Solutions Workshop for planning partner infospaces that combined Web and AT&T Interchange publishing technologies.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., Boston, MA., 1993-1994
Strategic Communications Director (1994)
Developed and implemented communications strategies across the five operating divisions comprising Client Services Group of 6,000-employee company. Established effective relationships with internal information management, product management, organizational performance, and communications organizations.

• Broadened employee understanding of company's stated vision, values, and strategy by deploying consistent themes and communications across divisions.

Operational Development Program Leader (1993)
Planned and executed strategic direction and tactical responses for development of new business in Government Programs Division. Managed timely development of proposals, requests for proposals (RFPs), vendor response evaluation protocols, and collateral documents. Coordinated technical and legal content of materials with multiple internal sources.

• Instituted document-automation procedures, reducing work process expense by over 30%.

Ziff-Davis Publishing, Boston, MA., 1988-1989
Editor, PCWeek Magazine
Managed editorial strategies, operations, and calendars of multiple sections of computer-industry newsweekly with controlled circulation base of one million subscribers. Recruited as editor of Buyers' Guides sections; also assumed responsibility for Supplements sections.

• Developed and launched new MicroScopes special-technology section to further increase advertising sales potential.
• Brought chronically late departments on deadline, reducing overtime expenses and substantially improving relations with art, production, and advertising departments.

Borland International, Scotts Valley, CA., 1987-1988
Publisher, TurboTechnix Magazine
Planned, staffed, developed, launched, and managed magazine. Joined corporate senior management team. Assumed responsibility for book-publishing joint ventures division.

• Developed prototype database application for integrated management of editorial, art, production, advertising sales, circulation, purchasing, business, and book-contract operations.

Blake Advertising & Public Relations, Paradise, CA., 1982-1986
Owner/Creative Director
Founded and operated advertising and public relations firm, developing annual billings over $0.5 million and executing general management and creative direction. Budgeted, designed, and produced public and media relations campaigns, advertising, corporate identity systems, annual reports, and collateral. Co-founded Ridge Merchants and Business Association, a non-profit organization for the promotion of local business.

Blake & Associates, Inc., Paradise, CA., 1977-1982
Editor/Publisher, On The Deck Magazine
Developed and launched industry-leading agricultural aviation trade magazine; managed editorial and publishing operations. Concurrently served as public relations officer for state aviation trade association; developed and executed public and media relations campaigns; developed and taught public and media relations seminars to agricultural aviation operators and pilots throughout California.

Freelance Photojournalist and Graphic Designer, Paradise, CA., 1968-1977
Proposed stories; completed research, interviews, and photography; delivered assignments on deadline. Designed business forms and collateral.

Education and Professional Affiliations
Chabot College, Hayward, CA. Mechanical Engineering; Dean's List.
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. English.

Member: Institute for Business, Technology, and Ethics, MIT Enterprise Forum, Women in Technology Int'l, New Mexico Internet Professionals Association